People throughout the world are becoming more concerned about how to make food safe to eat. A known fact is that reducing contamination actually works! However, in the United States, 1 in 6 people get sick from contaminated food.
There are more than 1,000 salmonella and other common germ outbreaks reported to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) each year. Every year, more than 1 million people get sick from eating food contaminated with salmonella. We can all benefit from learning how to reduce our chances of getting sick from contaminated food.
Make Food Safe to Eat
Salmonella is found in eggs, meats, vegetables, fruits, and peanut butter. Contamination can come from kitchen cutting boards and from the fields where the food is grown. Here are a few suggestions on how to prevent getting ill from contaminated food at home:
- Keep raw meat, seafood, and poultry in separate food containers
- Wash counter-tops, utensils, cutting boards, and hands with hot, soapy water.
- Use a food thermometer to make sure foods are cooked to a safe internal temperature. (165 degrees Fahrenheit for all poultry, 145 degrees Fahrenheit for whole meats, and 160 degrees Fahrenheit for ground meat). Always allow the meat to rest for at least three minutes before carving or eating.
- Always keep your refrigerator below 40 degrees Fahrenheit and refrigerate foods that will spoil.
- For more information on preventing food poisoning visit: FoodSafety.gov
Four Steps for Food Safety
Remember these four steps for food safety when preparing and handling food.
- Clean
- Separate
- Cook
- Chill
Follow these simple steps and you can help keep your family safe from food poisoning.
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